EASA Orders Inspections of 16 Airbus A380s Following Discovery of Cracks in Wing Structure

Paris – 23.06.2026: The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued an emergency directive requiring inspections of 16 Airbus A380 aircraft following the discovery of cracks in structural components of the wings. This directive primarily affects aircraft operated by Emirates Airline, with five planes requiring immediate inspection.

The affected aircraft are divided into two groups. Five aircraft must be inspected before their next flight, while the remaining eleven must be checked within up to 25 flight cycles. The five planes requiring immediate inspections are all operated by Emirates. Of the remaining eleven aircraft, ten are also Emirates planes, while one is operated by Qantas.

Emirates is the world’s largest operator of the Airbus A380 and currently operates over 100 examples of this model. The discovery of cracks in the wing structural components, particularly in the mid-span ribs, has led to this urgent measure. EASA has instructed Airbus to provide inspection procedures to the operators of the affected aircraft.

The inspections aim to determine the extent of the issue and whether repairs are necessary. The affected aircraft are divided into two groups. Five aircraft must be inspected before their next flight, while the remaining eleven need to be checked within up to 25 flight cycles. The five that require immediate inspections are all operated by Emirates, with the rest being Emirates and one Qantas aircraft.

Emirates is the world’s largest operator of the Airbus A380 and currently operates over 100 of these aircraft. The discovery of cracks in the wing structural components, especially in the mid-span ribs, has resulted in this urgent action. EASA has directed Airbus to make inspection procedures available to the affected aircraft operators.

The inspections are intended to clarify the severity of the problem and whether any repairs are required. EASA has instructed operators to report the inspection results to Airbus within seven days, including cases where no cracks are found. Depending on the findings, further inspections or repairs may be required.

This measure follows previous inspections mandated by EASA and Airbus in recent years. Analysis of those inspections led to the discovery of additional cracks, necessitating immediate action.

Emirates has already announced it will carry out the necessary inspections and work closely with the relevant authorities to ensure the safety of its fleet. Qantas has also taken measures to ensure its affected aircraft comply with safety standards.

The aviation industry takes such safety measures very seriously to maintain passenger confidence and uphold the highest safety standards. Both Emirates and Qantas have emphasized that the safety of their passengers and crew is their highest priority.